Looking to start U-17 World Cup team camp in first week of August: AIFF general secretary

All India Football Federation (AIFF) basic secretary Kusal Das on Friday mentioned its “endeavour” is to begin the U-17 Women’s World Cup crew camp within the first week of August, hoping to discover a manner out amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Das mentioned they’re additionally aiming to begin the U-16 crew camp, which is the federation’s high precedence in the mean time, across the similar time as there’s a event scheduled for November in Bahrain. Talking concerning the senior males’s nationwide crew, Das mentioned the camp will possible start in September in Bhubaneswar because the capital metropolis of Odisha is slated to host India’s two World Cup Qualifiers in October and November respectively.

“Our first priority is to start the U-16 camp since they have a tournament in November. That is the first endeavour. We are also conscious of fact that the U-17 World Cup team has to start its preparation. We should be able to start both camps by first of week of August,” Das instructed AIFF.

While the venue for the senior nationwide crew is mounted, loads additionally relies on the state governments so far as organising the camps for the U-16 outfit and U-17 ladies’s facet is anxious.

“We are in talks with various state governments and the Sports Authority of India (SAI). In some states the COVID protocols are very rigid. We will prefer where it is convenient for us. Hopefully, in next one week, we will finalise a date for the camps,” Das mentioned. “For the senior team the aim is to start in early September. It is a very tricky situation but we will look to do our best under the circumstances.”

The high office-bearer mentioned the federation had a whole lot of actions deliberate for its varied groups however the pandemic has are available the best way. “The pandemic is a cause for worry, it is affecting the teams’ preparation. We had lots of exposure tours planned but they had to be shelved,” he mentioned.

“Now, we are hoping to arrange at least one tour for the U-16 team before they travel to Bahrain. It’s the same situation for other teams as well. For U-17 team we would try to arrange exposure trips in November-December depending on the situation. A few trips would have really helped.”

Emphasising on coach schooling, Das mentioned the intention is to have an Indian as coach of the nationwide crew within the subsequent 5 years.

“We were earlier too dependent on AFC instructors. We were working on a project but that could not take off due to the pandemic. We had planned to send 10-12 coaches to Germany and Netherlands for coach education program. That is certainly part of our plan,” he mentioned. “In five years, we are hoping that the national team is coached by an Indian.

Asked about youth developments programmes, Das said: “I am sure the clubs are beginning to understand the benefits of youth development. I have heard yesterday that ATK-Mohun Bagan is building a top-class youth academy in Bengal.”

With the Asian Football Federation (AFC) granting India a slot within the top-tier Asian Champions League, Das mentioned the nation’s soccer golf equipment now should concentrate on attending to prestigious league and doing nicely there. He believed that world of sports activities will certainly change after the Covid-19 pandemic.

“There will be changes definitely and they will impact the sports also. There will be restrictions on the way people celebrate victory, in cricket they have already banned saliva for the time being and it is having an impact as far as reverse swing is concerned,” Das mentioned.

“For this season FIFA has introduced a one-minute water break where the players will carry their one water bottle. There will be limitation on way the spectators enter the grounds. Hopefully, things will settle down in the two-three years.”

He additionally praised the position performed by the AIFF’s industrial accomplice Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) for serving to the federation come out of the “financial mess” it discovered itself in when he took over as its basic secretary in 2010.